Bald Knob

National Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Bald Knob National

Wildlife Refuge is one of

over 500 refuges in the

National Wildlife

Refuge System

administered by the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife

Service. The mission of

the National Wildlife

Refuge System is to

administer a national

network of lands for the

conservation,

management, and where

appropriate, restoration

of the fish, wildlife, and

plant resources and their

habitats within the

United States for the

benefit of present and

future generations of

Americans.
cover photo: USFWS

This blue goose,

designed by Ding

Darling, has

become a symbol

of the Refuge

System.

Introduction

Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge

(NWR) was established in 1993 to

protect and provide feeding and

resting areas for migrating

waterfowl. Acquired as part of the

North American Waterfowl

Management Plan, this refuge

provides a winter home for large

concentrations of a number of species

of ducks and geese.

Located south of

the town of Bald

Knob in White

County,

Arkansas, Bald

Knob NWR

encompasses

approximately

15,000 acres of

forested

wetlands and

croplands. Lying

along the Little

Red River and

adjacent to the

Henry Gray/

Hurricane Lake

State Wildlife

Management

Area this refuge

is an important

link in protecting

wildlife and its

habitat.

The Refuge System

Unmatched anywhere in the world

the National Wildlife Refuge System

is an extensive network of lands and

waters protected and managed

especially for wildlife and its habitat

and for people to enjoy.

This unique system encompasses

over 92 million acres of lands and

waters from north of the Arctic

Circle in Alaska to the subtropical

waters of the Florida Keys and

beyond to the Caribbean and South

Pacific.

photo: Larry Richardson photo: USFWS
Habitat

Bounded on the south and east by the

Little Red River and characterized

by Overflow Creek which winds

through its middle, Bald Knob NWR

is a cross section of cypress-tupelo

brakes, oxbow lakes, bottomland

hardwoods and agricultural fields.

This variety of habitats supports a

tremendous array of plants and

animals throughout the year.

Two centuries ago the Lower

Mississippi River Valley contained

over 24 million acres of bottomland

hardwood and swamp forests. Today,

only 4.4 million acres of wetland

forests remain, most as islands in a

sea of agriculture lands.

In order to relink these

fragmented

forest and

improve habitat,

the refuge

conducts an

aggressive

reforestation

program. Many

agricultural

fields on the refuge are being planted

with the hardwood trees that once

covered the land before man’s

intervention. The native oaks,

cypress, gum and pecan trees planted

will enhance wildlife diversity and

prevent soil loss from erosion.

Agricultural lands that have not been

replanted with bottomland hardwood

species are still farmed to support

wildlife. Through cooperative farming

efforts with local farmers, the refuge

is able to provide an excellent food

source and habitat for wintering

waterfowl. Farmers plant rice, milo,

millet, and other crops. As part of the

refuge cooperative farming

agreement, the farmers leave 25% of

the crops unharvested for wildlife and

harvest and market the rest.

Reforestation

Agriculture

photo: USFWS
Wildlife

Due to its diversity of habitats Bald

Knob NWR supports a tremendous

array of wildlife species. Visitors may

see large

mammals such

as white-tailed

deer, raccoons,

bobcat, coyote,

river otters and

beaver year

round or a wide

range of smaller

species such as

reptiles and

amphibians in

the warmer

months.

Waterfowl and other bird life are

abundant. Since the refuge was

established to benefit waterfowl they

are the most numerous type of bird

species found at Bald Knob NWR.

During the late fall and through

winter large concentrations of blue,

snow, Canada, and white fronted

geese can be seen often feeding in the

stubble left from farming. In

addition, mallards, pintails, blue and

green wing teal and wood ducks can

photo: USFWS photo: Tom Smylie photo: Bruce Eilerts
FARM

UNIT

West

Point

Judsonia

Bald Knob

Hickory

Street

Safely

Road

167

157 367

67
MINGO CREEK UNIT

Liberty

Valley

Road

Lone Star Road

Hurricane

Lake Road

64

67

Bald Knob

National Wildlife Refuge

Arkansas

Refuge boundary

Private property

Waterfowl sanctuary

Interstates

Paved roads

Unpaved roads

Trails

Refuge headquarters

Parking

N
be found swimming and feeding in

the wetter areas. The refuge

annually hosts one of the largest

wintering pintail populations in

Arkansas and serves as a staging

area for pintails migrating to the

coastal areas of west Louisiana and

eastern Texas.

Long-legged

wading birds

such as herons

and egrets can be

found stalking

their prey in

shallow waters.

Songbirds such

as prothonotary

warblers,

common

yellowthroats

and bluebirds

can be seen both year round and

seasonally darting among the trees.

Bald Knob NWR is home to two

species that fall into this category—

bald eagles and peregrine falcons.

Both of these species have recovered

significantly

after being at

perilously low

populations.

During the

winter months,

up to twenty

bald eagles may

be seen at a time

perched high

above the refuge.

Eagles have

attempted to

nest on the

refuge, but with

no success.

Peregrine

falcons are also

present during

the winter, but

only seen

occasionally.

Endangered

and Threatened

Species

photo: Mike Boylan photo: Ron Singer photo: S. Maslowski
Enjoy the Refuge

The public is encouraged to visit the

refuge year-round. Hunting and

fishing opportunities attract many

outdoor enthusiasts. As a significant

wintering area for mallards, duck

hunting can be excellent. Other

refuge hunting seasons include deer,

squirrel, rabbit, quail, and raccoon.

The waterfowl sanctuary is closed to

all public use November 15 -

February 28.

Access

Access to the refuge is limited due to

unimproved roads and few facilities

have been developed. All-terrain

vehicle (ATV) trails provide the only

access to the Mingo Creek Unit of

the refuge year round and to the

Farm Unit from November 15 to

February 28. These trails are also

opened for foot traffic. All vehicles

must stay on established roads and

trails.

photo: USFWS
Hunting

The refuge is open to hunting for

waterfowl, small game, and whitetailed deer. Hunting is permitted for

small game and deer in designated

areas during specific times. A permit

is required. Contact the refuge

headquarters for more information.

Fishing

The refuge is open for fishing

although opportunities are limited.

State seasons are in effect. Contact

refuge headquarters for more

information. Anglers find good sport

fishing on the refuge with bass,

catfish, crappie and bream making up

the principle game fish.

photo: USFWS

photo: USFWS
Wildlife Observation/Photography

There are roads and trails open

throughout the refuge, see the map

for locations. Stay on the trails to

avoid disturbing wildlife. Some areas

of the refuge are closed, see map for

more information.

Hiking

All ATV trails are open to foot traffic,

please stay on the trails. Some areas

of the refuge are closed during

certain times of the year, see map for

more information.

Fires

Fires are prohibited at all times.

Firearms

Firearms are prohibited except

during hunting seasons, see hunt

brochure for more information.

Camping

Camping is not allowed on the refuge.

Collecting

Disturbing, feeding or collecting

wildlife or plants and searching for or

removing any object of antiquity

including arrowheads and pottery

shards is prohibited.

Alcoholic Beverages

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle

or motorboat while under the

influence of alcohol or drugs. Federal

law also prohibits the use or

possession of alcoholic beverages

while hunting on national wildlife

refuges.
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge

Route 2, Box 126-T

Augusta, AR 72006

870/347 2614

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

http://www.fws.gov/~r4eao

September 1998